Therapeutic device



Sept. ll, 1945. L. FISHER TAL 2,384,670

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE INVENTORS leona/a His/7er ,@a/ h FAS/7er* BY /o J?5%. WHORNEY Sept 1,1, l945 L FISHER Erm'. 2,384,570

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Filed Nov. 1, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept.11, 1945 THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Leonard Fisher and Ralph Fisher, l

San Francisco, Calif.

Application November 1, 1943, Serial No. 508,489

9 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to therapeutic devices, particularly one inwhich heat and light are applied.

In Patent 2,097,455 of November 2, 193'?y one of us disclosed a devicewherein light, heat and vibration were employed therapeutically toadvantage. We have now found that heat and light produced in accordancewith this invention can be advantageously employed alone therapeuticailyin the treatment of extended exposed areas of the body.

It is well known that the generation of light is attended with heat.Consequently, if one attempts to apply light to any extended surface ofthe body, some amount of risk of burning the skin may be involved. Inaccordance with this invention we have devised a successful apparatuspermitting intense light, particularly infra-red rays, to be applied tothe body while little sensation of heat, except to a pleasant degree, isexperienced. Over an extended period of time, devices utilizing thepresent invention for light and heat generation and application havebeen successfully employed therapeutically with complete safety.

In applying infra-red rays to the human body for treatment, particularlyover extended areas, it was found that even though relatively coldsources for generating the infra-red rays were employed, a sensation ofburning would be felt on the skin. This difficulty we have been able tnovercome successfully by employing a reecting device having a diameterand a radius of curvature so related to one another that aberrationoccurred. Thus, instead of the reiiector focusing the infra-red rays atone or more points on the patient, convergence of the rays was avoided.The optical principles of aberration are well understood and need not befurther expounded here. aberration, we have found, is assisted 1f thereiiector, instead of being a true reflector, is a diffusing reflector.To this end we have successfully employed devices having a reflectingsurface such that the energy waves are broken up and scattered by theroughness or irregularity of thek reflecting surface.

In the device disclosed in the aforementioned patent skin' surfacevibration was secured by vibration of an element in contact with theskin. We have now found that by vibrating the skin with sound waves,either in the phonic or the ultraphonic range, at the same time that thevibrated area is heated, burning is obviated and a deeper penetration ofheat into the tissues is secured. The sound wave vibration apparentlyvibrates the skin and increases blood circulation.

(Cl. 21S-34) This is effective to carry away heat reaching the skin andtissues into the adjacent area and to deeper tissues. Instead, the lightand heat generation source, vibrating constantly, provides a 5generalized heat and light source, one effective over the entire area ofthe reflector without localization. In this way it is possible for apoint source to be effective in generating heat or light which isreected from a single point on the reiiector constantly and is yetdistributed over an area instead of being focused on one point. This inaddition reduces any likelihood of burns or uncomfortable sensation ofheat or light rays. In addition, the vibrating heat and light sourcetends to produce therapeutic energy effective in producing a relativelydeep body penetration. Thus, instead of one continuous ray emanatingfrom one focus, an energy flux is, in effect, generated which penetratesinto the body tissue, causing more blood to circulate through thetreatment area.

We have also discovered that advantageously subjection of the human bodyt heat and light rays may be varied; that is, the application canadvantageously be an intermittent one with the application repeated attimed intervals for a definite period of time. This involves employmentof a timing device; the inclusion of such a timing device also has theadvantage that subjection of the patient to a treatment is not left tothe whim of an operator, vthe timing device being set for a definiteperiod of operation, preferably a cyclic one. In this way possible harmto the patient as from burning or excessive treatment is avoided.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein thepresent preferred device embodying the invention is disclosed.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a inachine embodying thepresent invention. y

Figure 2 is a wiring diagram.

Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section through the reflectorlight source unit and certain associated supporting mechanism.

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4 4 of Figure 3 illustrating theconstruction of the vibrating 50 unit.

Figure 5 is a section taken through adjusting means for the device whileFigure 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5.

As appears in the drawings I provide a suitable base structure 1 movablysupported .by casters 8 upon a suitable supporting surface such as floorl. A flexible cable II extends from the base to a suitable source ofelectrical energy. Mounted upon the base is a pedestal I2 extendingupwardly to carry control panel Il and provide a suitable supportstandard I5. The pedestal and support standard are preferably hollow topermit installation of suitable presently described wiring andelectrical instruments and control devices employed in conjunction withtherapeutic device Il. An extending hollow arm or boom I8 is adjustablymounted on the standard and extends therefrom to carry the presentlydescribed therapeutic device of this invention, the device beinggenerally indicated at II.

Means are provided for raising and lowering the arm or boom I8. Mountedupon the standard l is a suitable casting I! slotted to receive an ear2| formed as part of a casting 22. The ear is positioned on a shaft 26which will now be further described. The shaft 25 has a head 21 thereon.Abutting the head and carried by a non-circular portion 28 is a wormwheel 29. The shaft is supported for rotation in casting I9 by circularportions 3l and 32. These are spaced apart by another non-circularportion 33 fitting in a cooperatively formed receptacle in ear 2I. Astud 34 carrying a washer 3G is screwed into the shaft to retain it inplace. The successive elements on the shaft, that is, non-circularportion 28, bearing 3|, non-circular portion 33 and bearing 32 are eachsuccessively of smaller diameter. With the worm wheel in place, theshaft can be inserted in position and the stud and washer secured toretain the shaft in position. Thereafter closures 37 are placed in thecasting i9 to enclose the worm wheel and the shaft. The worm wheel isengaged with a worm 4I carried upon a shaft 42 suitably mounted forrotation in casting I9. Shaft 42 also carries a worm wheel 43 engagedwith a worm 44 on a shaft I6.

4In this manner a double reduction is effected and the position of theboom I8 can be adjusted nicely, shaft 46 extending from the casing andcarrying hand Wheel I8.

To support the boom and enable its position to be adjusted to a nicety,a bracket 5| is secured to the casting I9 by a stud 52 at one endthereof; at the other end of the bracket an ear 53 extended into abifurcated end 54 on tube 56. A plunger 5l is hinged as at 58 on theboom Il, the plunger extending into tube 50. A spring 59 is positionedin the tube to abut the plunger; the boom is thus supported flexibly bythe bracket 5I and by the extensible arm provided by the plunger, springand tube 58.

The angular position of the therapeutic device I 'I on the end of theboom is readily adjusted and to this end we mount a casting BI on theend of the boom. This casting is bifurcated as at 62 to receive theapertured ear 63 from the supporting head 64 of the therapeutic device.The position of the ear is adjusted by means of the bolt 66 and handwheel 61, rotation of the hand wheel being .effective to draw thebifurcated ends 62 of the casting 6I together to clamp the ear 33 in aselected position.

As appears in Figures 3 through 6, standard I6, castingy I9, boom I8,casting 6I and ear il are apertured or channeled, as are the otherdevices in the path, to permit suitable cables for the distribution ofelectrical energy to the therapeutic device to be threaded unobtrusivelythrough the apparatus.

The therapeutic device I'I, as previously mentioned. includes a. head'caslng structure M. In this is mounted a magnetic core 'II having asuitable coil 12 wound thereon. A passage for a movable rod or plunger'Il is provided through the core. The plunger is movably supported fromthe core by a flexible and resilient B-shaped member 14 secured to thecore as by rivets 1I. The 8shaped member carries a magnetic member IlThese cooperate with the coil to provide an electromagnetic vibratorcapable oi' vibrating rod or plunger I3 about 7,200 times per minute.

The plunger extends through the core to support and vibrate a, heatingelement generally indicated at 11, the element including a. ceramic base1l on which is carried a metallic heating element 10, the ceramitbasebeing engaged and positioned by a nut on the rod 13. The upper end ofthe casing is closed by a suitable closure member Il. To the lower endof the casing is attached a stationary reflector l2 and an outerstationary casing Il, the reflector being spaced from the outer casingto permit air circulation between the two so that one cannot touch thereflector and be burned if the reflector for any reason should becomeheated. The heating element passes through an aperture in closure memberN at the end of the reflector.

Across' the face of the outer stationary shell 83 is provided a suitablegrille 86. This is ordinarily made of a screen of relatively large mesh,a half inch or so. The screen is provided for protective reasons toensure that one cannot touch the heating element and to retain anyportions if the element should break and portions fall therefrom.

As I have previously mentioned, the form and nature or the reflector arehighly important. The reflector diameter and curvature should be suchthat aberration occurs, that is.' heat and iight waves generated by theheating element should not become focused at any point or even at anyplurality of points but instead should generally be diffused more orless evenly across the entire area beneath the reflector. In this wayone can expose the human body safely without fearof burning the bodyeither due to heat or infrared ray application.

Another highly important factor is the diffusing nature of thereflector; The reflector can accordingly be made of any material whichwill diffuse the reflected light and heat waves. Pre!- erably we haveemployed spun, unpolished aluminum to provide a simple and inexpensivereflector structure.

Referring particularly to Figure 2 a suitable source of electricalenergy is indicated by power lines IIII and |02. A suitable timingdevice indicated generally at III is provided, this device ordinarilycontrolling a relay IM to handle the heavy current supplied by lines IUIand Il2. 'Ihe timing device is such that it controls the periods ofenergization as well as the periods of deenergization of the heatingelement segments |08, IUI and IIII as well as the vibrator so that onesetting of the timing device causes the elements to be operated in acyclic manner as will presently appear further herein. One side ofvibrator coil I2 is connected to line IUI while the other side isconnected by line IUI to switch III to relay IM controlled by the timer.The vibrator can operate at various rates of vibration. We prefer a highrate, about per second, but this can be less (25 per second) or more(240 per second).

In general, the rate of vibration to be employed should not be one whichis objectionable to the patient and one can use any rate in the phonicor ultraphonic range. Of course, vibration at extremely high rates givesrise to special construction problems but these can be readily solved bythose skilled in thel art for they are purely mechanical problemsentirely incidental to practise of the invention.

The heating element includes three segments |08, |08 and H0. Thesepreferably are capable of supplying different degrees of heat. EachVelement is respectively connected by a line III,

H2 and H3 to line I 0| while the other side of each element isrespectively connected by a line IIN, H5 and H6 to switches H1, H8 andH0 to line |06. A tell-tale lamp |20, |2| and |22 is connected inparallel with elements |08, |08 and I I0. The lamps, switches and thetimer are conveniently mounted on the panel I4.

Under the control of timer |03, the operator can selectively energizeelement |08, |09 or H0 by closing switches III, H8 or H9 selectively. Atthe same time, the elements can Ibe vibrated or4 permitted to heatwithout vibration depending upon whether or not switch I0I is closed. Inone successful device the elements |08, |09 and H0 respectively had apower consumption of 200, 300 and 500 watts. These could .be operatedindependently or together in any desired combination to provide heatfrom 200, 300, 500, 700, 800 or 1,000 watts of power; the element can bemade to provide any desired heat output and with any number of sections.

Timer |03 is effective to permit energy supply to the selected heatunit, with or without the vibrator, for a selected time period, say 90seconds. The timer then cuts oil the power for say 30 seconds, whereuponit turns it on for another 90 seconds. The time intervals are by way ofexample and other intervals can be used in the cyclic operation.

From the foregoing we believe it will be clear v that we have provided anew and novel therapeutic device which we intend to claim broadly hereinwithin the scope of the appended claims.

This is a continuation in part of our application Serial Number 418,040,filed November 6, 1941.

We claim:

1. In a device of the character described, an aluminum reflector havinga diiluse reflecting surface of a diameter and a curvature suillcient toproduce substantial aberration, an electrical heating element extendedsubstantially along the longitudinal axis of said reflector and spacedtherefrom, means for energizing said elements independently of oneanother, and means for vi- :bx-ating only said element at about '1,200vibrations per minute.

2. In a device of the character described. an aluminum reflector havinga difluse reflecting surface of a diameter and a curvature suiflcient toproduce substantial aberration, anelectrical heating element extendedsubstantially along the longitudinal axis oi.' said reflector and spacedtherefrom, and means for vibrating only said element at about '1,200vibrations per minute.

3. In a device of the character described, an aluminum reflector havinga diffuse reflecting surface of a diameter and a curvature sufllcient toproduce substantial aberration, an electrical heating element includinga base yand having a plurality of independent heating segments thereon,said element being positioned substantially along the longitudinal axisof said reflector and spaced therefrom, and means for rapidly vibratingonly said element at a rate at least in the phonic range. l

4. In a device of the character described, a reflector having a diameterand a curvature sufilcient to produce substantial aberration, anelectrical heating element including a base and having a plurality ofindependent heating segments thereon, said element ybeing positionedsubstantially along the longitudinal axis of said reflector and spacedtherefrom, and means for rapidly vibrating only said element at a rateat least in the phonic range. f

5. In a device of the character described, an aluminum reflector havinga diffuse reflecting surface of a diameter and a curvature sufficient toproduce substantial aberration, an electrical heating element extendedsubstantially along the longitudinal axis of said reflector and spacedtherefrom, and means for rapidly vibrating only said element at a rateat least in the phonic range.

6. In a device of the character described, a reflector having a diffusereflecting surface, said refiectorhaving a diameter and a curvaturesufilcient to produce substantial aberration, a heat source positionedcooperatively to said reflector for reflection of heat and light fromsaid reflector, and means for rapidly vibrating only said sourcerelative to said reflector at a rate at least in the phonic range.

'7. In a. device of the character described, a reflector, a heat sourcecooperatively `positioned 'with respect to said reflector to supplylight and heat 'waves thereto for reflection, and means for rapidlyvibrating only said heat source at a rate at least in the phonic range.

8. In a device of the character described, a reflector, a heat sourcecooperatively positioned with respect to said reflector to supply lightand heat waves thereto for reflection, and means for vibrating only saidheat source at a rate in the phonic range.

9. In a device of the character described, a reflector, a heat sourcecooperatively positioned with rspect to said reflector to supply lightand heat waves thereto for reflectionI and means for vibrating only saidheat source at a rate in the ultraphonic range.

LEONARD FISHER. RALPH FISHER.

